BNSF to Develop New Master Planned Logistics Hub in Phoenix

Bruce Kelly / BNSF

FORT WORTH –– BNSF has announced plans to build a 4,321-acre logistics hub in Maricopa County, near Phoenix, Ariz.

The planned hub will be designed to respond to the dynamic and rapidly changing needs of BNSF’s customer base efficiently and sustainably, offering streamlined supply chain solutions. The development will be a master-planned logistics hub that will accommodate the transportation, storage, and distribution of goods and materials throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area and the greater southwest.

Three integrated but distinct components include:

• An intermodal facility on 1,770 acres, which will serve as a transfer hub for rail shipments via standardized containers and trailers
• A logistics park on 1,420 acres, which will provide sites for state-of-the-art warehouse and distribution facilities
• A logistics center on 1,131 acres, which will provide direct-rail-served sites supporting local industry

The facility will tie into the existing rail network to optimize supply chain operations, allowing for the efficient movement of goods and materials via rail, while also reducing environmental impacts and supporting current and future growth. The project will generate significant jobs and promote economic development by allowing businesses to co-locate together.

Vice President of Service Design, Jon Gabriel, said “As BNSF and the customers we serve adapt to shifting marketplace needs, evolving supply chains, and significant technological advancements, we identified a need for additional rail capacity in the Phoenix metro area. Arizona is an important region to expand and advance our intermodal network capacity. This is a long-term investment and commitment to our customers and consumers in Arizona and beyond.”

The combined facilities provide the opportunity to reduce trucking distances in the region, which will reduce air emissions, highway and road maintenance costs, and improve highway and road safety.

Given the regional importance of the project, BNSF will be working closely with Maricopa County, neighboring municipalities, and regional stakeholders over the coming months.

Photo by David C. Lester